{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://welch.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/itc-provides-relief-illegal-chinese-imports-northeast-kingdom-s-columbia", "ITC Provides Relief From Illegal Chinese Imports to Northeast Kingdom\u2019s Columbia Forest Products", "2017-12-01", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "VT", "Peter Welch", "W000800", "welch.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, DC - Following four years of advocacy by Rep. Peter Welch (D-VT), the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) today provided long overdue relief to a key employer in the Northeast Kingdom.\u00a0\nColumbia Forest Products, which maintains a manufacturing facility in Newport, Vermont, has been struggling to compete with illegal Chinese imports. In a unanimous ruling, the ITC voted 4-0 to impose significant tariffs on dumped and subsidized imports of Chinese hardwood plywood.\n\u201cToday\u2019s decision is great news for the employees of Columbia Forest Products,\u201d said Rep. Welch. \u201cThe company and its employees have been reeling from subsidized and illegal competition from China.\u00a0 This important decision will level the playing field for the company, preserve jobs, and ensure its continued contributions to the regional economy.\u201d \nIn 2012, the company, a hardwood veneer and plywood manufacturer, filed a petition with the ITC protesting the dumping of cheap and illegal Chinese hardwood and veneer products that undercut its business in Vermont and around the country.\nIn 2013, Rep. Welch personally testified before the Commission on the company\u2019s behalf.\u00a0 In addition, Welch helped lead two Congressional letters of support for the industry to the Commission, one in 2013 and one this year.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://welch.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/itc-provides-relief-illegal-chinese-imports-northeast-kingdom-s-columbia"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.525921979919076, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}